Yamaha or Honda? Plus Help with suspension?

It wouldnt take much to be an upgrade over the 1982 XR100. If you were riding motocross, I would tell you to buy a 125 2 stroke, but since you are riding trails, there are several options. I would probably recommend a Kawasaki KDX200, KDX220...or a KTM 200EXC might work, although the KTM will cost you more money. You are sort of in that in between phase where nothing fits you perfectly. A CRF150F might work or it could be small for you. I think the TTR230 or an CRF230F may be a bit heavy for you. Maybe you should ride some friends bikes, if possible, and see for yourself.

Supermuffin said:

My dad suggested i Stay away from 2 strokes because they are very tempermental and need to be constantly tuned and worked on. So 2 strokes are out of the option. I was looking at the KTM 250SX-F. It is a 4-stroke. So i am guessing it is green stickered which both make it a buyable bike for me on that part. But Is the bike to much power for me? or is it not made for jumping?

Thanks again,
Corey

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Your looking into motocross bike. 2 stroke or 4 stroke will require alot of tuning and maintenance. motocross bike = high maintenance bike whatever itis 4 or 2 stroke. Also 4 stroke parts are alot more expensive, also while 2 stroke are cheaper to maintain/repair they are much easy to work on.

If you want a bike wich do not need much tuning and maintenance dont look into motocross bike.

2 strokes don't need ot be constantly tuned and worked on. Once you get them jetted properly, it's pretty much jump on and go - save for replacing the top ends at the necessary times. My last bike was a Suzuki RM 125 bored to 144. I did little to it other than change oil, clean air filter, adjust chain and replace piston/ring, other wear parts once a year. Every couple years I'd have to replace clutch plates and some other things like that.

200 and 250 2 strokes require relatively less maintenance than a 125.

The new 4 strokes like the KTM 250SX-F (and like my current YZ250f) are going to require somewhat more maintenance than a 2 stroke 200 - and that maintenance will be more expensive than the 2 stroke.

However, if you're casual riding - not racing - it's not like either bike is going to require constant attention and ridiculous amounts of money - unless you blow a motor - in which case the 4 stroke will likely cost 2-4 times more than the 2 stroke to repair.

The new MX style 4 strokes are NOTHING like the XR/TTR type 4 strokes as far as maintenance - and they are NOTHING like the XR/TTR type 4 strokes as far as power. The suspension on an MX style 4 stroke is A LOT better than an XR/TTR - and the MX style bike is significantly lighter.

A TTR 230 probably has in the range (guesstimation - someone correct me if I'm wrong) of 16-18 HP.

A 250f like the KTM you're looking at is the 33-37 HP range.

That's why it requires more maintenance. 2 or more times the HP = you better keep up on maintenance or you'll have an expensive problem.

mathd said:

Your looking into motocross bike. 2 stroke or 4 stroke will require alot of tuning and maintenance. motocross bike = high maintenance bike whatever itis 4 or 2 stroke. Also 4 stroke parts are alot more expensive, also while 2 stroke are cheaper to maintain/repair they are much easy to work on.

If you want a bike wich do not need much tuning and maintenance dont look into motocross bike.

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Define "high maintenance", "much tuning" and "much easier to work on".

I bought into that stuff about the 4 strokes for awhile, as well. The motors aren't that difficult to do a top end on. Harder than a 2 stroke? Yes. Is it actually hard to do a top end on a 4 stroke? Not if you buy a manual and pay attention to what you're doing.

And, again. . . if you're not an "A" or "B" class racer who is racing every weekend and practicing all week with the motor at the rev limit, the maintenance is not that bad on either the 2 stroke or the 4 stroke MX bike.

It's definitely more than the XR/TTR types, though - but IMO, it's definitely worth it for double power, better suspension and lighter weight.

You're probably not going to like TTR230 for jumping. They're heavy, have less suspension than an MX style bike and the suspension is not really intended to be jumped like an MX bike.

Take a look at the Yamaha WR250.

The WR series is the trail version of the MX YZ-F's. It's set up for woods riding, tends to be heavier than the MX bikes - some bikes like that have electric start, lights, heavier flywheels, etc. . . Thus they're heavier.

However, they have detuned versions of the same motor as the YZ-F's and the suspension is MUCH better than a TTR. More like an MX bike but set up for woods instead.

So yes, you can jump a WR. It's not going to be as suitable for jumping big stuff as an MX bike, but it'll work fine for what you're wanting to do.

Any MX and many offroad bikes newer than 2002 will be red-stickered, except for a few lucky one's that slipped by the DMV. Here are the red vs. green-stickered models by year.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad/cert/cert.php#6

It looks like the WR250F and some KTM 250 XC variations got green stickers starting in 2006. Happy Hunting.

Supermuffin

You dont want a KTM 250 SX. SX stands for supercross, which is similar to motocross. As stated, you are looking for a trail bike. I suggested a KDX 200/220 because they are low maintenance 2 strokes with predictable power. It is important to understand that all 2 strokes are not the same. There is a big difference between a KDX and a YZ or CR 2 stroke...in maintenance and power.

I will admit that I know nothing about green stickers...we dont have that here in TX.